Democracy & Governance
Ademola Adeleke And The Law That Is An Ass -By Festus Adedayo
When the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal ruled on Friday last week sacking the governor, Gboyega Oyetola, nephew to the Leader of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) (apology to enfant terrible, Yinka Odumakin) the English proverbial saying that the law is an ass was what leapt unto my lips. Said to mean that the law is many times contrary to common sense, it is said that the ass under reference is the English colloquial name given to a donkey. Donkeys are said to have a somewhat ignoble reputation for obstinacy and stupidity and thus, the rigid application of the law is the reference of this phrase. In Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist published in 1839, a Mr. Bumble (the cruel and pompous man in the poorhouse where Oliver Twist, the orphaned boy, was raised) who comes across as spouse who was unhappy, while confronted by his domineering wife, was told in court thus “…the law supposes that your wife acts under your direction.” My Bumble had replied: “If the law supposes that, the law is an ass – an idiot.”
Not a few people believed that the law wasn’t indeed an ass in the ruling of the tribunal. Even though virtually everyone knew that tactical elbowing by the government in power, due to its being in power, was employed in the Osun election, the belief of the people was generally that justice could scarcely be got in the Nigerian judiciary. Before the judgment, the infamous renown of actors in the electoral drama who are kingpins renowned for tailoring justice to their path had been severally traded. So when Senator Ademola Adeleke’s victory was pronounced, many were joyously shocked.
I personally am not optimistic of any positive possibilities from the impending PDP government under the dancing folk. I believe Ademola
